If the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction had taken place a couple of weeks later, this wicketkeeper-batter would have been hot property. Gujarat stumper Urvil Patel must consider himself desperately unlucky not to be picked by any of the 10 IPL franchises at the mega auction.
But the 26-year-old from Mehsana isn’t taking disappoint in his stride as he is setting the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament on fire with his electrifying display with the bat. On Tuesday, Urvil shattered a world record by bringing up his second T20 century within a week.
Urvil is now the only cricketer with two centuries in T20 cricket and both scored in less than 40 balls. Last week. Urvil smashed Rishabh Pant’s record by scoring the fastest-ever T20 century by an Indian batter off 28 balls against Tripura at the Emerald High School Ground in Indore.
On Tuesday, he smashed the fourth-fastest T20 century by an Indian off just 36 balls against Uttarakhand at the same ground. Chasing a target of 185 to win, Urvil clobbered an unbeaten 115 off just 41 balls with 11 sixes and 8 fours. Gujarat strolled to the target with 41 balls to spare.
Huge Congratulations to Gujarat Senior Men’s Team!
What a spectacular victory over Uttarakhand CA in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy!
Back-to-Back Centuries: Urvil Patel steals the show with a blistering 115 off 41 balls* (8 fours & 11 sixes) – pure dominance! … pic.twitter.com/9BgPuF1cjf
— Gujarat Cricket Association (Official) (@GCAMotera) December 3, 2024
Last week Urvil had clobbered an unbeaten 113 off 35 balls while chasing a modest target of 156. His knock included 12 sixes and seven fours, propelling Gujarat to victory in just 10.2 overs. His century in 28 balls was the fastest by an Indian in T20 cricket, and his strike rate of 322.86 in that innings is second only to Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who hit a 27-ball hundred earlier this year.
He was part of the Gujarat Titans squad featuring Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill in the IPL 2023 season, picked up for Rs 20 lakh. However, in spite of his explosive performances with the willow, Urvil was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. He entered the IPL 2025 Mega Auction with a base price of Rs 30 lakh but went unsold.
“I did expect an IPL deal, to be very honest. But I am happy that I am playing, performing and taking my game forward. I was watching the auction, but I simply got up and immediately shifted my focus towards my game after not being picked by any franchise. I am not disappointed. This is something not in my hands,” Urvil was quoted as saying by TOI.
